Create your own wifi hotspot using your pc and and a hotel LAN cable?
 

It's a pain when you're travellling and the hotel only has internet via cable. Is there a way to plug some device into your pc that creates a temporary wifi hub so you can update your ipod and wifi phone? Preferably something that allows only your devices and not give public access.

There is a program called Joiku hotspot for the Nokia phone that turns it into a little wifi hub that I have found useful for short ipod updating. The paid version allows you to encrypt it so random people can't access the connection and use up your network data.

Thanks in advance for your ideas FTers.

The answer is yes. I know how to do it on a Mac. It's rather simple really. I'm sure there's a way to do it in Windows as well.

On a Mac:
1. Hook up the hotel's LAN cable.
2. System Preferences > Sharing > Check "Internet Sharing" > Select Share your connection from: Ethernet; To computers using: Airport.
3. Click "Airport Options" and fill-in the required Network name, encryption and password.

Voila! You have your own mini-hotspot with its own SSID and Password.

On Windows 7, you can install Connectify:

http://www.connectify.me/

Yup. And it's possible it might even work. Or not.

Internet Connection Sharing within Windows 7 can easily create an Ad Hoc WiFi network with most wired hotel internet connections. I've done this a few times, mainly so I could use my iPad when no in-room WiFi was available. I've never needed a third-party app.

Can this be done in Window 7 without additional software?

How about jailbreaking your iphone and using THAT to create a hotspot? I do it at the airport all the time!

Thanks to all for these suggestions. I will give them a try and let you know how I get on.

You can try Virtual Router if you have Windows 7.

If you have XP, you can create an ad-hoc network.

I shared a 3g usb mobile broadband connection to another laptop, a pda, and phone while traveling in NZ.

I can't find the exact page I used to set it up.

But I remember that I created a new wireless network connection using my initials as the SSID name ie XYZ. Then I bridged the 3g usb internet connection (or LAN wired connection in your case) with my laptop's wifi connection.

I enabled ICS (internet connection sharing) on the wifi connection and had the other laptop connect to the XYZ network with a simple password that I set on my laptop.

I always travel with an airport express because of hotel rooms with ethernet cables. Simply connect up your computer to activate the internet connection, plug the airport express into a power socket near the ethernet socket, switch the ethernet cable from your computer into the airport express and hey presto you have wireless in your room.

I set up my airport express to hide the SSID which is the simplest form of security if you want colleagues in adjacent rooms to share your connection.

When you get home, plug it into a power socket near your stereo and use it to catch and play your itunes music without needing to drag wires all around the house.

Wow. Unlike my frustrating experience with Connectify, this worked swimmingly. ^

And note my posting #13 in this thread, in which I discover that Connectify secretly installed the Ask toolbar along with its non-functional self.

Regarding Virtual Router, would it permit two laptops to share one (paid) wireless connection. E.g., two friends share one GoGo connection during a flight?

And how do you plug in the hotel's RJ45 cable into the jailbroken iPhone?

I'll echo that recommendation. Additional benefits are easy access for everyone if you are working with colleagues in your room and access for all gadgets that may benefit (think iPhone or iPod touch)